April 2021 – The Salty Exchange

Kendall and Shari: A Keto Check-In

April 29, 2021by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment

Kendall:

At first, I felt a bit skeptical about jumping into Keto. Many said the restrictions were difficult and finding decent meal plans were a challenge. These things can definitely be true depending on your reasons for starting/trying Keto and the amount of preparation you put into research, meals, etc. As a prepper, I found the research to be soothing and super enlightening. The biggest truth I uncovered? NOT ALL KETO IS THE SAME. Like, whoa. There are a lot of approaches and all of these different approaches seem to work for all kinds of folks. The challenge? Well, what is going to be best for me to try?

To preface, Shari and I are NOT doing Keto to lose a ton of weight. Like… really, just no. We wanted to try a different approach to eating and find a different way to connect with our bodies. As we have aged (I swear 30 hit and my body just decided to rebel + pregnancy changes A LOT about your body), it’s become harder to feel good. Hitting the gym is definitely part of that holistic approach. Healthy eating is definitely part of that holistic approach. Keeping my mental health in check is definitely part of that holistic approach. So, what’s the problem? I did all of those things. Well, in all honesty, my body has changed. I have changed. Doing all of those things are good and important. I workout 5 days a week. I have projects that keep me happy. We were eating relatively well! And yet, I felt sort of stuck. My husband has very much been in the same boat. He was on some meds for a while to help with certain issues and they were actually causing all sorts of problems with his energy, focus, and unfortunately, his liver. This was a total fire under my butt to figure out how we could be doing more. Enter the scary Facebook video black hole that introduced me to Thomas DeLauer.

At first, I was drawn in to his videos because who doesn’t love grocery haul videos? Oh wait… you don’t? Then just navigate away now…

Anyways, I loved his videos, his knowledge, and his obvious passion for living your best life. I was hooked. THE MAN MADE VIDEOS FOR WOMEN, ABOUT WOMEN. This is a rarity. A lot of fitness, lifestyle, and dietician influencers (even some of my favorite kick a## women) have great content but it is not always easy or obvious to find stuff that speaks to my body and its many hormones, differences, strengths, and, yes, weaknesses.

Keto isn’t entirely new to me. My husband and I have been intermittent fasting for quite some time now (him more than me). So the idea of clean keto (a specific type of eating in the Keto world) with intermittent fasting really appealed to us. Oddly enough, a Keto diet has also proven to help with the very same medical issues my husband currently battles. And before some know-it- all starts spouting off some self righteous sh*t, please note that we both checked with our doctors and had their support and guidance to begin this particular journey. My husband’s VA doctor was super on board and optimistic. And in the interest of full disclosure: I only told my healthcare professional because I happened to have my yearly physical appointment during my research phase… or else, I probably would not have bothered to say anything at all.

So now we are about 10 days into Keto. I am thoroughly enjoying not being bloated. I also don’t feel limited in food choices at all. I am learning so much about WHAT is in my food, new recipes, new food pairings, and better ways to grocery shop. These are all GREAT things. I feel super excited to keep going and have already noticed some changes in regards to my energy. I have lost a few pounds which I attribute more to me not being bloated than anything. I also feel more efficient in the kitchen… not sure why but perhaps a few more weeks in will reveal why I am feeling that way.

There are so many ways to Keto. Shari and Alex are doing it a little differently than Issy and I because they aren’t fasting. Please note: you do not have to fast to do Keto. At. All. We all seem to be pleased with our progress and how we are feeling. I call that a win.

Shari:

Cutting down on carbs and sugar cold turkey has been easier than I anticipated (thanks to doing this with my husband and my accountabilibuddy, Kendall). The craziest change for me came at the very beginning… lack of appetite. I went from snacking (more than I care to admit) to not really craving snacks and filling full enough to make it to my next meal. I am happy to report that I didn’t have the “keto flu” and credit it to the clean version of keto we are sticking to and a shout out to our healthy eating beforehand. However, my husband did have a dull headache for the first few days. When it lifted on the fourth day he said he felt great and has, thankfully, continued to feel good since!

So far my main challenge has been getting excited about making meals. Let’s be real- this happens to me all the time! I kept it super basic the first week since I was traveling and knew I needed food that I could throw together easily. On my four day trip I bought a lot of meat and veggies and a few snacks from Costco. My staple meal was chicken skewers with a cucumber salad with EVOO & salt/pepper (really basic but easy on-the-go). My snack of choice has been Keto clusters (a very limited amount) and Duke’s Sausage Links. For every meal, I have been eating a wholesome medley of healthy fats (like avocado, nuts, etc), protein (eggs, chicken, salmon, beef), and vegetables (cucumbers, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower). I have watched so many Thomas DeLauer youtube videos they are all starting to mesh together in my brain. I also follow a few Keto accounts (thank you Tastes Lovely) that have really enforced the idea that this whole Keto thing is easier than you think (and also less restrictive than it initially seemed)! I mean… come on… who doesn’t want to try this?

Ultimately, it’s been easier than I originally anticipated and I can already see the benefits of less bloat, more energy, and I am excited to see what happens next. I’m motivated to see this through and learn more about my body in the process. The fact that I am not craving sugar midday is a WIN all on its own! Until the next check-in, feel free to reach out to Kendall and I below in the comments section or on Instagram @thesaltyexchange or via email, thesaltyexchange@gmail.com.

Shari’s Thoughts On Energy Vampires

April 23, 2021by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment

As a natural optimist, I understand that not everyone is on my level of positivity. That said, there are definitely people out there that (quite literally) suck the joy out of the air. I am sure you know someone that leaves you feeling stressed out, depleted, and guilty. They come in various forms but most commonly as the victim, the over-exaggerator, and the guilt-tripper! I will share with you some basic ways I have identified these types of people in my life and what have I done to protect myself from getting my energy zapped out from underneath me.

**Let’s get this out of the way: I am not an expert but I have had my fair share of friends/acquaintances in these categories.**

Here are some identifying traits of these energy vampires:

The victim is typically a person that always has a sob-story and nothing is ever their fault. They blame others and often make it seem like the world is against them. A key feeling to watch out for is your physical reaction around these people. Are you uncomfortable? Do you wish you could just tell them to take ownership and move forward? If that is the case then you are probably dealing with someone who is draining your energy by playing the victim.

The over-exaggerator can take any situation and blow it out of proportion. Even a simple trip to the grocery store can seem like a scene from a movie. Their emotions are usually extremely good or horribly bad with a story to accompany the feelings. Their need to be the center of attention goes from charming to narcissistic quickly and simply being around them is draining. Watch out for that feeling of dread when they enter a room. Acknowledge how you feel when they talk AT you, rather than TO you. Simply notice if you feel like you don’t matter when they are around.

The guilt-tripper is a more subtle energy vampire because they can hold a normal conversation but tend to veer off-topic and start blaming others at some point. Or my favorite example of a guilt-tripper is when you mention how great it is to see them, they quickly remind you that you know where they live and have their phone number, as if that doesn’t obviously go both ways. This type of person is harder for me to identify until I have left the conversation feeling (you guessed it) guilty. Remind yourself that you are not responsible for their blame. A key skill to build is remaining neutral and not accepting their accusations, no matter how innocent they may seem. Often the best and most inconspicuous guilt-trippers are family.

Now that we have identified several energy vampire traits, let’s discuss some ways to combat them. Like I mentioned before, pay attention to your physical reaction to other people, your body is an impressive indicator and will react subconsciously. Trust yourself, listen to red flags, and don’t down-play your intuition. The feeling of dread when someone walks in the room, is NOT a normal feeling. Stop and ask yourself “why do I feel this way” and pay attention to the interaction you have with that person and notice how they are being an energy vampire.

Next, I recommend you protect yourself; commonly known as setting boundaries or simply telling someone “this is what I can do for you, and this is what I can’t.” When you set boundaries it is easy for the other person to become defensive or feel attacked by you drawing a clear line in the sand. Do not engage. Stay neutral, stay focused, and make the decision to NOT react. It isn’t your job to explain why your boundary feels right for you, it is only your responsibility to make the boundary and for them to respect it.

My last suggestion for how to combat energy vampires is to be aware enough to notice who those people are in your life and take a conscious step back from them. Think about the type of people you want around you, hey, even think about yourself and what traits you may possess that could attract those people? Are you empathetic and people come to you with sob stories because you make them feel better… stop being their garbage can that they are allowed to dump their emotional trash in. Or think of the law of attraction… if you are an angry person, you may attract angry people into your circle. A little self-awareness work goes a long way and you’d be amazed to see how the people around you change too.

Regardless of the type of energy vampire you are dealing with, you are capable of walking away, addressing the issue, and/or setting boundaries. If you have any questions or want to discuss this topic further, feel free to leave a comment below.

Kendall On Friendships

April 23, 2021by thesaltyexchange1 Comment

When we talk about the pillars that give our lives meaning, we often say that friendship is one of those essential pillars. Friendships- specifically, good friendships- can bring A LOT of joy to your life. For me, I have found that friendships are an essential part of my mental health… in both good and bad ways. In my 33 years, I have learned a lot about not only friendships, but about how to try and be a good friend. Trust me when I say that those things are also always evolving and changing as my life changes and I grow up.

The truth is- I am generally terrible at picking friends. I tend to give a lot of trust and stock to people who really aren’t good friends to me. With that said, I need to tell you that this does not mean that these people are terrible people/friends in any way. You aren’t meant to jive with everyone on the planet and that’s totally ok. As they say, there is a top for every pot and this adage definitely applies to friendships. Now that that’s out of the way, I also need to say that I have some genuinely GOOD friends. Friends who I trust with my heart in all it’s great and not so great moments (and trust me there is a healthy balance of both) are limited in number. Some of my truest friends are the ones that aren’t in my life every day (actually probably most of my friends since I live in the random yet lovely state of Vermont). Despite the distance, knowing you can call someone and jump right into a conversation that is both easy, thoughtful, and fun isn’t something you find with everyone. The truth is, friendship does take a little bit of work. And that level of work is up to you and that friend. Finding a rhythm is important to establishing and maintaining that friendship.

What I have discovered is important to me in friendships are the following:

Expectation Management: I don’t like to be let down and I loathe letting people down. Being realistic about what I need from friends has helped me to make better friendship choices in recent years.
Authenticity: When you can pee on the phone with a friend- you know that’s the real deal. And even if I don’t have to pee, knowing that I can is what makes someone real special in my heart. And if you don’t understand that- that’s totally cool. You just are not a top to my pot.
Frequency: I do not need to talk to my friends every day. I mean, it’s not that I wouldn’t, it’s more a matter of life. Expecting someone (this goes back to expectation management) to check in often can be a lot. My friends have really full lives outside of me and by all means, they gotta live them. Checking in when we can and making goals to get on the phone are truly good enough.
My Hard Limit: Any friend that makes me question my every feeling, word, or action is not the friend for me. I do not need a friend to be my parent. So condescension is a big no no for me. Inconsistency in behavior? I don’t have time for that crap. I am personally just not mature enough to handle drama. I had drama a-plenty in my younger years… and that’s where it stays.

Full disclosure: I AM NOT A PERFECT FRIEND. I can be quick to judge, overly loyal (which sounds good but actually isn’t), easily distracted, and, yes, at times inconsistent- and not because I intend to be that way but sometimes trying to balance the pressures of family can make me a little, well, forgetful. I am working on it. I look back on some past behaviors, and trust me, I cringe. I get a pit in my stomach. WHAT was I thinking? WHY would I act that way? Ugh. But, I have grown up and changed and I want to be a good friend to those around me.

Living far away from our families the past five years has taught us that honestly, friends- if the situation is right, can be your family. Friendship is a truly beautiful and fragile thing. Knowing who you can trust with the most silly, ugly, and beautiful parts of yourself isn’t exactly easy. As someone who used to give myself to friends too easily and thus face disappointment, sometimes betrayal, and unnecessary drama, I don’t take those that I call “friend” lightly anymore. They are an essential part of my life and quite truthfully, help shape and make me better. And Lord knows, I have definitely matured in recent years. I would be lost without some of you- and you know who you are. So thank you for putting up with me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for just being YOU. I know some of us haven’t always had an easy path… but that’s ok. It’s still good to know that we made it to this point.

To those I have hurt (and yes, I know there are some), I am sorry. Really.

To those that have hurt me (and yes, I am assuming you know who you are), I forgive you. For reals.

To those that I love- I love you. More than you probably know.

And that’s all, friends.

Shari’s Gear Wall

April 15, 2021by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment

Welcome to my Gear Wall!

Ready, set, let’s chat about all things Gear Wall related from how I got started to why I love it so much!

The wall is chalk full of my favorite outdoor gadgets… from my hydration filters, hammocks, workout items, my entire backpacking set up, and more.

How did I get started?

I diligently searched Pinterest for small space saving ideas when I lived in a 500 square foot studio apartment in my mid-20’s. At the time, I didn’t have enough wall space to make my “Gear Wall” dream a reality and all of my outdoor camping and backpacking items remained smashed in totes under my bed. The downside to having gear in totes is the inability to see it all. Any time I packed for an outdoor adventure, I’d have to dump my gear onto the floor and dig through it.

A few years later, I was re-inspired by a picture my boss showed me. He had turned his spare room into an office and storage space. The storage was neatly along one wall with his backpacks, trekking poles, skis, and tennis rackets all perfectly displayed- inside his house! It looked like something that you would see in a clean and well-organized garage space.

I quickly googled the Rubbermaid Fast Track system and started to obsess over how it would look in my spare room.

What hardware to buy and how to install?

That same day I went to Home Depot and purchased several fast track rails, wall panels, and the organizer accessories. I went home and measured my wall, located the studs, and started construction. With some help from my husband the Gear Wall came together very quickly and those old gear totes got re-purposed. I LOVE being able to see all my gear in one spot. The wall of outdoor gear and workout items is organized, easy to grab, and constantly evolving.

Why a Gear Wall?

I’m not going to try and “sell” you on the Gear Wall. I know it isn’t for everyone. BUT if I do inspire you to organize your gear in a way that serves you best, then my job here is done! My life has been positively impacted by simply getting items out of totes and being able to use them and see them.

Another huge benefit of the Gear Wall? It’s quite literally my ‘bug-out’ bag prep station. I can grab from this wall and go in a matter of minutes. On this wall, I have everything I need to cook, filter water, sleep, and create shelter. To me this wall radiates independence, confidence and the promise of future adventures!

What do you think about creating a Gear Wall? I’d love to hear about your home organization tips & tricks!

Kendall on Being a “Prepper”

April 15, 2021by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment

When I was growing up, my mom always kept an emergency stash of supplies on hand. Since we lived in Washington State (the anticipated home of the “next big one”), this made sense. My dad was also a big advocate of having a go-bag of sorts stored in the car trunk. After all, you never knew what could happen, where that something could happen, and what you may need. The end result? I am a bit of a prepper.

Not one of those hardcore ones that are ready for the world to end (though, let’s face it- they are on to something). While the world was running out of cleaning supplies, food, and toilet paper last year, my household was ready. Normally I always keep water and extra paper supplies on hand. I think it’s weird that people covet toilet paper but I also never run out because I shop in advance for things I never want to be caught pants down without. Thus, my prepper stock was already in good shape by the time the pandemic hit. As things started heating up across the country and in China, I started to prep almost instantly. I read articles about what supplies were low in different areas, compared emergency lists from the CDC and WHO, and planned ahead for what we would want to eat should the world come to a complete standstill. Needless to say, when everything shut down- the Arguello household was open to friends and family who needed anything from wipes to bleach to paper towels to ground beef.

To this day, there are certain things I keep in a corner of my pantry that are deemed part of the emergency staples. Canned beans, canned chicken, canned vegetables, pancake mix, bottled water, a bag of rice, and an emergency backpack are just some of the few things we have available. When I am out and see a particular cleaning item or pantry staple that I may not need in the moment, I always pause to think if I will eventually need it or if someone else might need it in the coming months. This thought process has helped to keep our supplies fresh and plentiful not only for ourselves, but for others as well. And I manage to do this without being a hoarder. Everything is somewhat tidy.

Buying everything you need all at once isn’t always practical. Whether the issue be space availability or financial, the bulk buying of emergency supplies can become, well, annoying. And if you wait too long, competitive. SO. Last year, toilet paper sold out (or if you are from WA state, every time it snows the toilet paper flies off the shelf). This year, the extreme weather conditions in Texas left its citizens looking for water, food, and warm clothing. My advice is to first, make a list. Make a list of everything and anything you would want if you were stuck at home and could not leave your house for a month. Sadly, this isn’t that far fetched. Next, categorize those items in a way that makes most sense to you. For example, our categories are:

Food/Pantry
Water
Emergency Supplies (think first aid, masks, medicine, etc)
Clothes for the seasons (tip: if you have kiddos in diapers- always have a pack or two of diapers that are a size up)
List of all utility phone numbers and account information (because who knows- but that’s just the smart thing to do)
Emergency docs (things like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other important paperwork should be kept in a fire safe place)
On the run (this may sound scary but it’s sort of the most efficient way of keeping the most essential items together and in a place that you can throw in to your car and, well, run, should you need to)

This may seem extreme. I get it! It kind of is. Who wants to live their lives prepped like this at all times? Even I do not have all of the above organized and put away. I mean, we have all of it- just not put together in nice little boxes everywhere.

If the past year has taught me anything, it’s that prepping (in moderation- don’t go buy 50 freezers and then purchase the whole meat department at Costco to put in the said 50 freezers- that’s just excessive) is not a bad thing. Knowing what you have, what you don’t, what you want, and what you need is just common sense, right? Purchase things over time. Keep an eye on any expiration dates, be aware of any family changes, and adjust your stock/shopping schedule as needed.

As the world begins to return to “normal,” I encourage you not to forget about that initial panic that you felt 13 months ago. Keep a little bit of that with you. That feeling is what we learn from; it’s what we’ve grown on.

Shop away, my friends. And stay safe.

Shari: Processing Family Moving Across the Country (Again!)

April 9, 2021April 9, 2021by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment

The irony of my blog this week was that it was supposed to be a reflection post about when my oldest brother moved his family to Ohio. I was going to write about how I have made the most out of visiting them and how I am finally at peace with having a chunk of my immediate family across the country. Fast forward, and now my other brother (I only have two brothers/siblings) is building a custom home in Tennessee which should be completed in early 2022 and I once again have to process my brother’s family moving out of Washington State and across the country. I’d like to say it isn’t as traumatizing as it was the first time but that would be a lie. Although I am not as shocked by the move… I am still sad.

There is no doubt in my mind that I have a warped view of what it means to be around family. What do I mean by that? I think living so close to family growing up gave me a false reality of what classifies “normal” proximity to relatives. For example, most people don’t share a driveway with their grandparents and have 95% of their Aunts and Uncles living in the same state as them. As an adult, I now realize this but nonetheless, it wasn’t my reality as a child. I always dreamed of having my kids grow up with their cousins, weekly family dinners, and my parent’s house being a revolving door for homemade food and hugs (essentially, resembling my childhood). I never thought my sweet little nieces and nephews would be so far away and that a trip or two a year would have to suffice to see their faces and help them remember who their “favorite” auntie is. Don’t even get me started on how much I fiercely miss the bear hugs that only my oldest brother can perfectly give. Or the belly laughs that come from reminiscing on childhood memories that are blown out of proportion with your siblings while sitting around the dinner table. FaceTime, Zoom, or Duo are NOT the same no matter how hard you try.

I am looking forward to trips to Nashville, potential family gatherings in the South, and for my brother to custom build his dream home for his family. It’s been an awesome process to witness my brother and sister-in-law work through all the exciting (and daunting) details of their new home. I love how excited they are to get to know their neighbors and their heart for the community and new hometown that they will now raise their family in. These are all admirable reasons to move and I cannot (and will not) fault them for that.

Ultimately nothing really prepares you for people (especially family) to leave your life in a proximity kind of way. However, I refuse to sugar coat it anymore than I already have. It sucks.

Kendall on Living Across the Country (Sometimes the World) From Family

April 9, 2021by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment

When I first moved to Spain in 2016, it was the first time I had ever lived away from the vast majority of my family. Everyone told me I would be homesick. Truthfully, I wasn’t. Maybe it was the wonder of living in a foreign country. Maybe it was just time for me to carve my own path forward with my new family. My husband is a pro at moving around and has been away from his family since he was 18 years old and went off to college. New places, new faces, and new ways of life didn’t scare him. I was a little nervous at first mainly because of the language barrier in Spain. Looking back though, that experience has made me super adaptable (I know, I know- insert shock and awe here). Anyways, I really enjoyed life away from everything I had known. Rather than being scared, I felt peaceful. I felt like I was finally defining myself on my own terms (like, really, just my own). When you are stripped down to just you- no job, new friends, new family, and new experiences, you really do figure out who the heck you are and who you want to be. And in all that, there is a lot of opportunity for things to go south. There is also a chance that you will come out of it a much stronger person. I have and because of that, I am a better person.

There were some times when I missed my family- of course! I was used to seeing them all the time! I really missed having them around when I was pregnant. After Rosemary was born, Issy and I both really wanted to have our families close by to witness all the little things that she was learning and experiencing. As someone who was raised by my grandmother, I do understand and value the idea of family. I would not trade all the grandparent time I got for anything in the world. I loved our big family holidays that took up full weekends. I miss that stuff. I miss feeling connected to my many cousins. But the truth is that, at present, our path is not in WA or TX (where my husband’s family resides). Our path is here in Vermont. In some ways, that’s made the pandemic easier; less people to see. In some ways, it is also fair. We aren’t choosing one person’s family over the other. We are neutral. Also, our decisions are definitely our own. There are no other voices- just ours. And I mean that kindly! Everyone only wants the best for us and I know everyone has truly good opinions and ideas… but for us, it has really strengthened our bond as partners. We have to listen to and trust in each other- just us two.

The bad thing about living away from your family? Well, there lots of bad things! Not only do we miss them but we also worry. I worry about my grandparents because they are getting older (though I have made them promise me that they will never die so… why am I worrying?). I worry about my dad being isolated at home during the pandemic. Issy wants nothing more than to hangout with his best friend (his sister, Dina). He also misses his mom and dad and worries about them going to work and being out and about while Covid-19 is raging on in our country. If something were to happen to ANY of our family, it’s not easy to get a flight from VT to our home states. Layovers, layovers, layovers.

Moving away can be scary. It may not work out for you. And that’s ok. For us, it’s hard BUT it has worked out. We like our story and we like our path. We make it a point to get on the phone with our families often. I talk to my dad via FaceTime once a day, every day. I manage to FaceTime with my grandparents about once or twice a week so that they can see Rosemary. It all works out. As we start thinking about what’s next, we know that we are most likely never going “home” again. In fact, when we do go back to our birthplaces, it doesn’t feel like home. It all feels different. There is a lot of nostalgia and a lot of good memories but the future of our family is elsewhere. The one big thing I learned after I left Seattle is that home is where your heart is. And mine is wherever Issy, Bella, and Rosemary are.

Shari On Hobbies

April 2, 2021April 2, 2021by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment

What do macramé, cake decorating, oil painting, and guitar lessons have in common? They are all hobbies that I have wanted to learn but haven’t had the opportunity to jump into yet. The key word of that sentence being yet! Like most people, the lack of extra time, access to quality lessons, and infinite “fun” money for materials are the main barriers to entry when trying something new and adding to my hobby repertoire.

Let’s break that down… it takes a significant amount of TIME to learn a new skill (especially if it is something that you have never done before). Plus you have to actually practice what you learn with consistency and repetition. For example, years ago I learned how to knit but never knit more than a scarf. After Christmas last year my friend sent me links to needles and yarn along with a step by step video link that she had followed and then, I was off and running! I made probably 20 knit wool hats over the course of January and February this year (not kidding)! I was able to learn and then practice (a lot)! I still have so much to learn about knitting but it was so fun to make hats and headbands and gift them to family and friends.

Another huge factor when trying a new hobby is access to training RESOURCES like quality lessons and/or FREE step-by-step instructions! Another example I have of this is the most recent hobby I’ve picked up: photography. I’ve always loved taking pictures and may (or may not) currently have over 20K photos on my iPhone (embarrassing)! My main reason to learn photography is to capture landscapes, specifically mountain landscapes at sunset with that epic alpine glow. I bought a nice basic camera that a friend suggested (she also let me check out hers) and I began to practice. I also downloaded an app called Udemy and searched by “photography” and filtered the search to “free courses”. Sure enough I had 8+ hours of photography basics training and I spent an entire Saturday educating myself. We have access to so many free online training resources. Hop on google or YouTube and start searching!

The final factor when looking into a hobby is what MATERIALS do you need and how expensive this new investment is going to be and the impact on your budget. This is something I am currently figuring out with gardening… picking out seeds, starts, soil, gloves, etc. There are so many factors when planning out your garden and they all start to add up. Same with any hobby really, it all tends to add up. If you are truly interested in starting and committing to a hobby, research the time and resources first… be logical about what you can commit to and then (when you are sure you can commit) start saving for the materials needed to build your hobby out over time. Also birthdays are a great time to ask for things too, ha!

Have fun! Hobbies can be a useful and great way to manage stress. Not to mention, they can be a creative outlet for our minds. April is ‘Stress Awareness Month’ and honestly, anything that can help us de-stress is worth the time and investment.

What hobbies are you into? Let me know in the comments below!

Kendall: Spring Cleaning (My Favorite Time of the Year)

April 2, 2021by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment

If you know me, you know I am a clean person. Like, a really clean person. My home is always tidy and fresh. Sheets and towels are washed regularly. There’s never a ton of clutter on any surface. Being clean is a bit of an obsession of mine. If something isn’t clean, I feel itchy and frustrated. It can put me in a seriously pissy mood. I wish I wasn’t like this but I have been this way since I was a little girl. With that all said, every OCD cleaning addict’s favorite season is upon us… spring cleaning!

Spring; a time to scrub, a time to dust, and a time to shine. I have a good list of things going to get accomplished in the next month. From dusting those hard to reach corners and cleaning/prepping our yard, we have our work cut out for us. We have an essential list of products that we keep in the house at all times and a few items that we order special for our twice yearly deep (super deep) cleanings.

When it comes to products, I try to be sustainable, eco-friendly, organic, and gentle. This is where Grove Collaborative comes in for me. Grove Collaborative (from here on out referred to as Grove) is a subscription based service that retails products that are mindful and protective of our health and our planet. Now, sure, some of these products you can find at Target and other major retailers but what I love about Grove is that I don’t have to go to the store, I can adjust the frequency of shipments and subscriptions. For ex: toilet cleaner. I don’t need toilet cleaner monthly but I can adjust the setting on Grove to ship it to me every 3 months. If I need it sooner, I can modify that and if I don’t need it at all, I can modify that too! I can also move the shipment of all monthly items to whenever I want.

With that all said, I do use some heavier chemical based products for cleaning. For example: the tile in my shower will not clean with anything less than a bleach based product. Why? No idea. Also, COVID-19 has scared people back to chemicals for a “real” clean. And I actually totally get this. I have bleach in my house but I don’t use it often. I have Lysol spray in my house. I do wipe certain products down every few months with it- just to be safe… because, you know, COVID. Overall though, I do prefer gentler and safer for kids and pets products. My dog licks everything and gets into EVERYTHING. We have to be careful with chems. And Rosemary is super intrigued by my cleaning products… so I want to make sure that the stuff I use around her or in her room and bathroom is safe for her to be exposed to.

** Please note, I am not paid for by Grove- I just love it. If you want to try it out, here is a link. I will get a referral fee! And if you just want to sign up by yourself, go to Grove.co. ALL new users usually get a pretty sweet welcome gift.

For my referral link: https://www.grove.co/referrer/64561624/

Without further ado, here are some of my favorite products!

Method Antibac Bathroom Cleaner

Method Daily Shower Spray

Honest Disinfecting Spray

Hello Bello Surface Wipes

Seventh Generation Glass Cleaner

Glass Cleaner Concentrate

Seventh Generation Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Scrubbing Bubbles Power Stain Destroyer

Kaboom No Drip Foam Shower Cleaner w/ Bleach

Ok, products aside, I love reusables. Check these out from Grove: